Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a tender for the PSO contract for Arranmore Island and Tory Island has been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14622/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There are 5 separate contracts in place for subsidised transport services for Árainn Mhór and Oileán Thóraí. They are not PSO contracts but 'Contracts for Services', procured on the open market, that provide those island communities with a range of passenger and cargo ferry services along with a seasonal helicopter service (in conjunction with the HSE).

The current contract for a Roll on / Roll off service for Árainn Mhór was originally agreed for the 5 year period from 01 September 2019 to 31 August 2024, with provision for 2 extensions of up to 6 months each. The current contract for the heavy cargo service for Oileán Thoraí was originally agreed for a 2 year period from 01 July 2022 to 30 June 2024, with provision for 2 extensions of up to 6 months each.

The process of renewing each service is currently underway and a public tender for these services will be issued shortly. The Department has availed of the extensions permitted within each contract in order to ensure continuity of service while the renewal process is being completed.

A consultation process for each service was completed with the island communities last year, and the respective tender documents have been drafted to incorporate, where appropriate, community requirements of each island. The Department expects to issue the tender documents for each service in the coming weeks.